Yes, I took my scissors and carefully cut the background right out of the bird piece. Yes, it was a little scary. And yes, gulp, I think it was the right thing to do. I told you I was considering something drastic.The thing is that background was just not working. It didn't work as it was originally and then I painted it and turned it into moosh. Moosh is the thing I most dread. It is where what was supposed to be a delicate flow of color loses its way and becomes a blodgy, sloggy, muddy moosh of color. There is far too much moosh in the world of art quilts in my humble opinion.
Now I am working on a new background and I don't think it will have the words on it, but they live on in the irony of this piece. Its name is "Everything is transition." The words were, "The intention is to move as if everything is transition. As if nothing ends." It is a quote from a book I was reading when I made the piece originally. Maybe this will be a neverending piece. Maybe I will take it out every few years and redo some part of it. Probably not.
I do have a plan for the new background.
Ahh yes, when in doubt cut it or burn it that has always been my mantra Terry. And usually it has been the correct thing to do....looking forward to the new and improved background. I like the idea of revisiting the piece again in a few years.
ReplyDeleteI hereby declare my studio a moosh-free zone.
ReplyDeleteWow. Gutsy!
ReplyDeleteNow we await the finished new piece.
ReplyDeleteInteresting... Maybe you could make a piece using the portion that you cut out - like a companion piece that shows the negative space of the bird...
ReplyDeleteAh, I'm thinking you would like Garth Clark's lecture (ipod version at the Contemporary Crafts Museum website). He says that the desire of the Craft world to be seen as Art has ruined Craft. It should align itself with design, instead.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard the lecture (nor bought the book because I'm not at home to receive it) but the idea is really intriguing. And you seem to be an exemplification of that thinking. Whereas I'm the bad example, who fled elsewhere. Queen of moosh, gotta go paint and stop pretending to be a textile artist.
And so the piece about transition becomes a transition itself...
ReplyDeleteThe delicate phase of transition... Do you plan a mainly black background for the black or almost black bird? Okay, I agree about the moosh. But I think it was not such a bad moosh.
ReplyDeleteBravo for decisive action, Terry!
ReplyDeleteAre you planning to re-use the old background for something else? (Tutors are always saying "Never throw anything away, you can always re-work it. Sometime.")
ReplyDeleteFrom the photos, it looks like in smaller pieces it would lose its mooshness.
Cant wait to see the finished product!!
ReplyDeleteI admire and support your committment to clarity.
ReplyDeleteBye bye moosh!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you do, but I am enjoying filling the background myself. Due to current reading material, mine is a bit post-apocalyptic/industrial. Who or what is that bird talking to? Is he trading the egg for... what? Fun. :)
ReplyDeleteBrave woman; go for it!
ReplyDeleteOh, this is exciting! I can see a universe of possibilities. But, knowing you, the final solution isn't one of the ones I've thought about.
ReplyDeleteCould you just lay this quilt on top of your Mt. Hood quilt and snap a quick picture? Kind of a "crow's eye view".
I can't wait to see the reincarnation!
ReplyDelete